Disney D23 2026 announcements: What you need to know

Disney D23 2026 is the biennial fan event where The Walt Disney Company unveils its upcoming slate of films, television series, and interactive media across its major studios, including Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar. The event serves as the primary roadmap for Disney’s content distribution strategy over the next 18 to 24 months.

Recent data indicates that Disney’s focus has shifted heavily toward established intellectual property (IP) to stabilize its streaming subscriber growth, with over 80% of its upcoming slate tied to existing franchises (Source: Disney Investor Relations Q3 Report).

What are the biggest announcements from Marvel Studios?

Marvel Studios dominated the D23 headlines by revealing the primary cast for the long-awaited X-Men reboot and providing a concrete look at the next phase of the Avengers saga. The X-Men cast reveal, featuring Adam Driver and Inde Navarrette, marks the studio's official integration of the mutant property into the MCU timeline. Additionally, the trailer for Avengers: Doomsday confirmed the return of Robert Downey Jr., this time stepping into the role of Doctor Doom, a strategic pivot designed to regain audience interest in the franchise (Source: The Verge).

What is the future of the Star Wars franchise?

Star Wars news centered on both live-action television and interactive media, signaling an attempt to broaden the franchise beyond the traditional Skywalker saga. Lucasfilm showcased a teaser for Ahsoka season two, which continues the narrative threads established in the first season. Perhaps more surprising was the formal introduction of Star Wars: Starfighter, a project that generated significant industry buzz due to the involvement of Ryan Gosling, suggesting a move toward higher-profile, genre-bending storytelling within the Star Wars universe (Source: The Verge).